Thousands Pay Final Respects To Yuba City Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

Family and friends of U.S. Army Spc. Chase Marta and Beale Air Force Base leadership pay their respects during a dignified transfer at Beale on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Marta, a Yuba City native, was killed in combat May 7 by an IED while serving in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by John Schwab)

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE (CBS13) – Thousands lined the streets of Yuba and Sutter counties on Wednesday to pay final respects to an Army soldier who was killed by an enemy attack in Afghanistan.

At about 11 a.m., a military-contracted aircraft delivered the remains of U.S. Army Spc. Chase Stone Marta to Beale Air Force Base. His family and friends waited on the tarmac as the Army Honor Guard carried Marta’s flag-draped casket off the aircraft and bagpipes played.

Marta, 24, of Yuba City was one of three soldiers killed in combat May 7 by an improvised explosive device (IED) while serving in Afghanistan. He had been part of the 82nd Airborne Division, headquarters in Fort Bragg, N.C., and assigned to the 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

“We express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends,” said Col. Phil Stewart, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. The military is a close-knit family and when a tragedy like this occurs, every member of the armed services feels it.”

Beale airmen salute the motorcade of U.S. Army Spc. Chase Marta during a dignified transfer at Beale Air Force Base on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Marta, a Yuba City native, was killed in combat May 7 by an IED while serving in Afghanistan. More than 1,000 Airmen lined the motorcade route to pay their respects with a salute as the procession exited the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Robert Scott)

More than 1,000 Beale airmen lined the streets of the route to pay respects with a salute as the procession proceeded to exit the base. Once outside the base, the hearse drove into Marysville, over the 10th Street bridge to Yuba City and ended its route at Ullrey Memorial Chapel.

Everywhere along the way, people – many of whom never met Marta – lined the streets to show appreciation for Marta’s service and flags were flown at half-staff.